Investments and Stewardship

The thoughtful stewardship of The Community Foundation’s assets is a critical responsibility of the Board of Directors. The Foundation’s investment program utilizes multiple levels of oversight in managing assets for the benefit of Western North Carolina.

The Foundation’s Investment Committee, comprised of local professionals with investment and financial expertise, has responsibility for all aspects of investment activities, including investment policy, asset allocation, and performance review.

An investment consulting firm strengthens and informs the work of the Investment Committee through analytical studies, manager searches, and the compilation of performance data. Multiple investment managers provide value to the Foundation’s investment process through the application of their knowledge and experience in portfolio management.

The Community Foundation’s goal is to achieve a rate of return sufficient to address the charitable needs of Western North Carolina, while not exposing its assets to undue risk of significant capital depreciation.

The performance goals of the Foundation’s investment activities are as follows:

• In relative terms, the Foundation’s investments should outperform an appropriate composite of the major indices (S&P 500, Lehman Brothers Government Corporate Bonds, etc.)
• Equity investment should earn over time an annualized real rate of return of at least 6%. (Consumer Price Index + 6%)
• Fixed income investments should earn over time an annualized real rate of return of at least 2.5% (Consumer Price Index + 2.5%)

The Community Foundation allows fundholders to recommend from among multiple portfolios, each under the oversight of the Investment Committee. For funds not otherwise recommended by donors, the Foundation invests in a broadly diversified portfolio that provides strategic allocations to equity investments, fixed income investments, and alternative investments.